Stage 21 - Oliva de Plasencia to Aldeanueva del Camino (28.5km): 18/09/2014 13:21

Cáparra, the one four-sided Roman arch in the Iberian Peninsula

We rejoined the Camino near Cáparra, six kilometres on from where we left the day before. Of course, we had to walk to Cáparra, which also happened to be a distance of 6km, so we put up the necessary mileage. Cáparra was the site of a Roman city and excavations seem to have been taking place in recent times. What was always visible is the huge arch, the one four-sided Roman arch in the Iberian Peninsula.

We had the rain gear on for the early part of the day but the sun came out for the second half and it was quite warm when we had trouble with signposts. An official signpost took us under a motorway as expected. Another later took us to the west. At the next fork there was nothing. The northwest fork appeared to be the most likely but it petered out. The southwest fork was heading directly away from our destination so we turned back and walked parallel to the motorway knowing that somewhere there was a tunnel under it which would lead to Aldeanueva del Camino. Our path eventually ended at a fence. It seemed that we would have to go back to where we came under the motorway and walk along the highway which runs close to the motorway. On our way back to the tunnel a road bridge crossed the motorway but a 1.5 metre fence blocked our access. Others must have found themselves in the same predicament as we came to a weak point in the fence where, with some difficulty, we managed to get over it. After that we stuck to the highway.

Our detour added some unnecessary kilometres as we walked 28.5km instead of the expected 25km.

Once again we found ourselves in an excellent albergue. Also staying there were a young German couple and a Frenchman. In Aldeanueva we called into a small shop and the owner was delighted to meet us as her son is studying in Limerick.

364km completed, 568km to go